On Thursday, Toyota announced plans to suspend vehicle operations at its Russian factory as well as shipping any vehicles to the country, amid Russia-Ukraine geopolitical tensions.
The world’s top-selling carmaker said its plant in Saint Petersburg produced around 80,000 vehicles last year, mainly for the Russian market and representing just a fraction of the 10.5 million vehicles made worldwide by the Japanese group.
The Saint Petersburg plant employs around 2,600 people, a Toyota spokeswoman told AFP, confirming the supply disruption was linked to the conflict.
Toyota has no factories in Ukraine but said sales operations in the country had been suspended since February 24, when Moscow launched its assault.
Western governments, sporting organizations, and big companies have cut Russia off or dealt it punishing sanctions over the internationally condemned attack.
And other Japanese firms announced Thursday that they were halting or altering business as a result of the situation.
Honda said it had suspended all exports to Russia “until further notice”, though the firm only exports around 3,000 cars and motorbikes a year to the country.
Mazda, which sold around 29,000 vehicles in Russia last year, said it had stopped reserving containers for shipments to the country and would continue operating its joint venture factory in Vladivostok until parts run out.
Others were more cautious, with Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors saying they were reviewing the situation.
Furthermore, all Japanese airlines such as Japan Airlines and Nippon Airways are being forced to adapt to these measures of avoiding Russia by canceling routes to the latter or rerouting from there.
